Introduction: Meningitis remains a common and serious problem in children worldwide. One million instances of meningitis are assessed to happen in children worldwide each year. In Africa, where outbreaks are common 70% of meningitis cases are diagnosed in children under the age of five (5) years. Though in most cases, doctors diagnose early and adequate treatment started, 5% to 10% of patients still succumb during the 24 -48 hours after onset of clinical features. In 2009, the mortality rate in Africa was four thousand deaths. Study Objective: This study describes the predictors of bacterial meningitis among children aged 0 -5 years admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital (K.N.H.) paediatric wards. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. It was carried out in K.N.H. paediatric wards. Data were obtained from consenting parent or guardian and healthcare workers (nurses and registrars). Study participants were selected by convenient sampling method. A total of 104 study participants were included in the study sample. In-depth interviews of key informants were conducted on 7 health workers; 5 nurses from the paediatric wards and paediatric emergency unit and 2 paediatric registrars. Ethical consideration included full disclosure to participants, confidentiality, security of health records and informed consent. Data were collected by use of researcher administered semi-structured questionnaire and desk reviews of patients' files were also used. Qualitative data from the interviews were audio-taped. Logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis. Quantitative data were cleaned, entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results were displayed by utilization of tables, pie charts. Qualitative data were transcribed, grouped in themes and analysed manually. Study Results: The majority of the children (55.8%) were female. The highest percentage of the children (53.8%) was aged less than one year. The highest proportion of the parents (39.4%) was within the age group of 26 -30 years. Neonatal sepsis (37.5%), neonatal jaundice (25.0%) and for observation (25.0%) were the common reasons for admission to NBU. Children admitted and managed in the nursery unit were significantly 2.7 times more likely to have bacterial meningitis compared to those children never admitted to the nursery [OR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.08 -7.00; P = 0.031]. Streptococcus pneumonia was the main (51.2%) causative agent of bacterial meningitis among the children. Children who were taken to hospital in delay after illness were 1.740 times more likely to exhibit meningitis than those taken to hospital immediately. Children whose parents had higher levels of income were two times less likely to exhibit meningitis than those with lower. Majority (62.5%) resided in mid urban and slum areas. Most lived in a one (1) bed-roomed house and most houses (60.6%) had more than five people living in it. The main co-existing illnesses among the children were pneumonia (53.8%) and heart di...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.